Hundreds of people have died and thousands more left homeless in severe flooding after monsoon rains in India and Pakistan.

Large areas Srinigar, the largest city in the Indian-controlled part of Kashmir, are still submerged, forcing many to attempt to move to dry land and save what possessions they can.

At least 120 people have died and more are missing. In some places the water has submerged entire homes.

Over 450 villages have been affected, nearly all public buildings have been closed and electricity and drinking water have been rationed.

The emergency prompted a visit to the region by the Indian Prime Minister Narenda Modi on Sunday (September 7).

The story is much the same in the Punjab region of Pakistan where more than a hundred people have died.

“Last evening the water flooded our area, said one man, “we had to climb up trees to save our lives. Five of us were stranded for 24 hours. We had lost all hope. We were unaware that someone was trying to rescue us. We are thankful that the rescuers pulled us out from there.”

The Pakistani Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif, says his government will leave no stone unturned to help people in distress.